1 Nephi 8:24

24  And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, ^aclinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the ^bfruit of the tree.

-why is it that “others” who were also “pressing forward” did not get lost from the mist of darkness?

     “came forth and caught hold”

            -it seems that this catching hold of the rod, even in the face of some very difficult circumstances, is something that set those who did not lose their way apart from those who became lost.

            -the rod is a sure guide and without it there appears to be little hope of achieving the goal.   The rod becomes the gospel, it is a concrete, actual guide to hold to.  But it does not pull you along or do the work, it is a tool to use.  It does not make the mist disperse either –although it does give a very nice sense of comfort while being surrounded by the mist.

            -not all (or any for that matter) started at the rod or iron.  Thy journeyed until they found it, then grabbed on and followed.

      “press forward”

            -there is a lot f “pressing forward” going on.  As if our constant improvement is necessary, and as if we should expect our journey here to be a lot of hard work marked by difficulty… should we expect anything less than an experience similar to previous groups whose own efforts to press forward are recorded in the scriptures and in the history books of this world. 

      “through the mist”

            -there is only one way to travel life’s journey:  it is “through”.  There is no around, under or other bypass.  We are to go through the difficult times, through the heartache, through the temptations and through trials.  It is the “going through” that is the object of this existence.

      "...clinging ..."

            -apply to locking your hands when wrestling.

            -an action word.  I don’t know if there is a more proactive or descriptive verb that would be used here to illustrate the way in which we must pursue this path.

            -what is the nature of our hold (our grip) to the rod?  Are we touching, holding, gliding, etc.?  How seriously do we live the gospel?  Do we let some things “slip through”?  Are we lax in our observance?  Are we a Sunday Mormon?  Do we obey and keep the rules or do we “live the gospel”?  Do we love its principles, laws and ordinances?

            -just having the gospel is not enough.  We cannot just “walk the path”.  We must be anxiously engaged in living and hold tight to the gospel.  We must let it posses us.

            -this verse describes people whose effort has been nothing short of commendable.  These are good hearted, anxiously engaged people.  They have pursued and endured many things in their effort to obtain the fruit of the tree.  If we were to stop at the conclusion of this verse –knowing nothing more of the people described here- we would conclude that these are choice people, valiant and good.  BUT all is about to be turned on its head with one factor:  see verse 25.